Plans to create whisky distillery on Raasay progressing

25 May 2015

A distillery firm from Edinburgh is in the process of conducting environmental surveys with a view to submitting a planning application for a facility on Raasay.

R&B Distillers hopes to open the distillery in January 2017, if planning permission is granted later this year. The development would become the island’s first legal distillery and is expected to generate employment for 11 of the island’s 120 residents.

It is hoped the creation of a state-of-the-art visitor experience centre and luxury accommodation — which will include the restoration of the island’s currently-derelict Victorian hotel, Borodale House — will put Raasay on the map for whisky lovers around the globe.

Managing director Alasdair Day (pictured) said: “It’s incredible to think that there are still areas of Scotland completely ‘forgotten’ by whisky. The Isle of Raasay is one of those unique locations and the perfect home for R&B Distillers to handcraft whiskies of uncommon provenance.

“We’re now working hard to engineer a whisky destination unlike any other. From the magnificent views over to Skye, to experiencing craft distilling first-hand, we can’t wait for visitors to discover our whiskies, the island and the community here on Raasay.”

Following a pre-planning application that was submitted to Highland Council in January, R&B Distillers are currently undertaking a protected species audit for bats, otters and the Raasay vole. A wildlife report is expected at the end of August with a view to the full planning application being submitted by September.